Feature: Alloy 131' Tri-Deck: "Ad Lib"

Ad Lib is a tri-deck 40m (131ft) motoryacht, designed by Dubois Naval Architects for Gary Lane, chairman of Alloy Yachts. She is the seventh motoryacht built by Alloy Yachts and the second Dubois-designed motoryacht for Gary Lane, following S.Q.N. which was launched in February 2003. Ad Lib is built to Lloyds classification and complies with The Large Yacht Code. She is flagged in the Cayman Islands.​

Ad Lib’s lines reveal a modern, elegant motoryacht, with a low profile and an extremely high standard of finish. Stylish detailing includes the polished stainless steel louvres that wrap around the side coamings on the main deck, concealed anchors, a composite hardtop bimini on the flybridge with an elegant wing-type antenna tower, and custom stainless steel deck hardware. The hull is painted in dark blue, with the superstructure in metallic silver, with charcoal accents along the window lines of the maindeck.

There are three principal access points. With the vessel moored stern-to on a dock, access is either across the stern swim platform, which has two curving staircases up to the main aft-deck, or across a three-section telescopic passarelle, custom-built by the yard. The passarelle retracts into the stern lazarette. There is also a 10-step Marquipt set of sea stairs that attach to the port-side. A door set into the transom provides access to a large lazarette, where the main tender, a 5.4m rigid inflatable Novurania with 160hp diesel sterndrive, is stowed along with a laser sailing dinghy, kayaks and assorted leisure equipment. The tender is launched and retrieved by an overhead gantry crane through a watertight side door opening on the port side. Main access to the engine room is through the lazarette. The vessel is powered by twin 1,450hp Caterpillar diesel engines with a cruise speed of 13 knots and a maximum speed of 16.5 knots. A 3.4m Avon rigid infl atable crew tender stows on the foredeck and is launched and retrieved with a deckmounted crane. A Sea-Doo is also stowed forward and launched with the same crane. A large forward lazarette under the foredeck contains a workshop, stowage with dive equipment and compressor. Two Pool high holding 160kg polished stainless steel anchors stow inside tunnels set into the bow. As the anchors are hauled up by Maxwell electric windlasses, they self-align and then disappear from view into the tunnels.

Outdoor entertaining areas are on the aft deck and the large flybridge. The flybridge is accessed through a custom watertight hatch, which curves from vertical to horizontal and slides sideways into a cavity at the head of a staircase from the wheelhouse. An external helm station is at the forward part of the flybridge, while the rest of the flybridge deck is given over to eight-seat dining table, four curved settees and a bar. This area of the flybridge deck is protected by a permanent hard-top bimini, built in composites to reduce weight aloft, with a futuristic antenna tower above. Aft of the covered area is a six-person jacuzzi surrounded by a large sunbed. An external staircase, protected by a butterfly watertight hatch, leads down to the maindeck aft deck. On the maindeck level the aft deck features another dining table with seating for 10. A large bench settee follows the curve of the transom and there is a curved bar, protected by the side coamings and the overhang of the flybridge deck above. An additional hard bimini slides out of the flybridge deck overhang to provide shade or shelter for the aftdeck dining table, if required. A large sunbed is also provided on the coachroof forward of the wheelhouse.

Interior finishes feature extensive use of book-matched wenge panels, together with leather and fabric paneling. The guest joinery is in wenge and sycamore with burr birch inlays, while the interior hard floors are in oak planking, or marble in the ensuite bathrooms. Cream carpeting is used extensively in the bedroom suites. The deckheads are V-grooved painted in cream, with mirror or upholstered panel inserts as feature elements. Hints of the New Zealand origins of the vessel are evident in discreet paua-shell inlays in the doors and a silver-fern inlay in the cockpit bar top.

The main saloon and dining area are on the main deck and feature oak floors, with large side windows providing excellent views. Looking forward from the glass and steel pneumatic ranch sliders that open onto the aft deck, the saloon is arranged with large and inviting yard-built cream settees and two distinctive multi-striped armchairs ranged around a square coffee table. A small occasional table and chairs provide a pleasant corner for writing postcards, or a casual snack. A low marble-top cabinet separates the dining area. The oval dining table is crafted in sycamore with a burr birch inlay, and seating for 10. Overhead is a mirrored lighting panel, while two glass floor to ceiling side panels also contain mood lighting.

Moving forward from the dining area, a companionway on the port side, with coffee machine, fridge and storage cupboards, leads to the crew lobby. Stairs lead down to the galley and crew area below and up to the wheelhouse. A similar companionway on the starboard side leads forward past a day head to the guest lobby, with a staircase down to the accommodation area and up to the wheelhouse. Further forward along the starboard companionway is the owners’ suite. The accommodations are divided between two levels.

The wheelhouse, with its raked back windscreen, is situated above the maindeck lobby with internal stairs from the port and starboard sides. Access to both side decks is through yard-built pantograph watertight doors. The furnishings are finished in blue/gray leather with polished aluminum inlays and fascias. A five-spoke stainless steel and wood-rim steering wheel is flanked by an extensive array of state-of-the-art navigation, communication and performance electronics with five large-screen monitors. A pedestal leather Stidd armchair is at the helm station, with a leather settee across the aft bulkhead. A backlit full-size chart table on the starboard side is balanced by a set of flag lockers on the port side. A feature of the vessel throughout is the leather-covered handrails with stainless detailing on the stairs.

The owners’ suite is on the main deck, forward of the main saloon and dining area. The owners are assured of complete privacy, with a spacious suite of rooms spanning the full width of the superstructure. The suite includes a separate office with charcoal leather inlay desk and matching leather armchairs. The bedroom has a king size bed to port with a cream fabric settee and art-deco semi-circular chrome coffee table to starboard and shelving for a library of personal books. A 30" LCD television is hung above a dresser with attractive patchwork leather-clad doors. When not in use, the television screen converts into a mirror. Aft of the bedroom area is a large walk-in wardrobe, while his and hers marble bathrooms are forward. Situated between the two bathrooms with access from either side is a large shower. The bathrooms are screened from the bedroom with a floor to ceiling lighting panel set into a timber bulkhead with square-cut apertures, reminiscent of the teak duckboards on traditional sailing vessels.

Guest accommodations are amidships on the lower deck. The guest staterooms radiate from a lower lobby, which is equipped with a fridge, so that guests can help themselves to drinks. Two identical double staterooms side by side extend across the full beam of the hull. A third stateroom has twin single beds, plus a well-concealed Pullman berth. All the suites have distinctive marble ensuite bathrooms, full climate control, TVs and entertainment systems, telephones and yard-built lever-operated Venetian blinds. A fourth stateroom is equipped as a gymnasium, with the bathroom area utilized as a wine and general storage area. However, all the plumbing is fitted, so the area can be converted for accommodation, if required. Foward of the accommodation area is the galley, laundry and crew area. The galley is on the port side and is equipped with two Miele electric ovens, a combination Miele convection oven and microwave, three two-burner Miele cooktops, two dishwashers, two standing Hoshizaki fridges, one with a freezer, and a custom under-floor 20 cu ft freezer.

Designer Comments:

Ed Dubois, Dubois Naval Architects: “The design brief for Ad Lib was based on the S.Q.N. philosophy of top end displacement speed, excellent sea keeping, first class layout and streamlined, elegant looks. Following the success of S.Q.N. (based on a tank tested hull) Ad Lib is a little faster with more waterline length and more powerful engines. The easily driven hull has excellent range/power ratio and her sea keeping is tried and tested. The layout is similar to SQN, but has been opened up in the saloon/dining area to give a greater feeling of space. The flybridge has been enhanced and the styling has the benefi t of the extra length."

Don Starkey of Donald Starkey Designs: “We are particularly pleased with Ad Lib’s appearance and we believe she will turn many heads. This was really a development from S.Q.N. but with darker woods and a slightly more ‘current’ modern style with more leather finishes. The expertise of all the craftsmen at Alloy Yachts and their knowledge of what real quality is made this one of the easiest projects to be involved in. The understanding from these craftsmen, who got into the spirit of our design, made the geographical distances between us disappear completely.”